What's New March '08

The 11th annual Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) Cleanup was held over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

The principal organization of the cleanup activities is the United Desert Gateway, a non-profit organization composed of the chambers of commerce of the Gateway Communities of Brawley, El Centro (CA), and Yuma (AZ) that surround the Imperial Sand Dunes.

"Cleanup efforts include the South Dunes Cleanup, which was started and organized by Jarrod Bullard of True Excitement,” said Nicole Nicholas Gilles, president of the UDG. Once again, thousands of duners participated in keeping their favorite play area clean by removing trash and debris. "This was an especially unique day in the dunes for our family" stated Jim Reber, long time duner. Jim also said, "We love these dunes, and today we made the effort to show it."

Approximately 5,000 off-road enthusiasts and family and friends participated in the 11th annual ISDRA Cleanup during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend. Hundreds of bags of debris and several large objects were removed from the BLM-managed OHV area, leaving the Imperial Dunes looking better than before they arrived.

This is an opportunity for you and your duning friends to learn "What's Legal and What's Not" directly from the officers involved.

Dune Info Meeting
"What's Legal -- What's Not"
MARCH 29, 2008
10:00 am til 3:00 pm
Jagged Extreme
2010 W. Parkside Lane
Phoenix, AZ
Click Here for Directions
http://www.jaggedx.com/home/index.php

There are still a couple mini cleanups this season: Saturday March 29th at Dune Buggy Flats in the South Dunes and Oldsmobile Hill in the North Dunes, and Saturday April 12 at Garbage Flats in the North Dunes. Come lend a hand.

This year, the ASA Give-Away buggy is a custom built Extreme Performance Eco II car. This is the second car that Extreme Performance has built for the ASA Giveaway Raffle. Tickets are $20 each and the winner will be drawn at the 2008 Sand Sports Super Show, September 21, 2008.

K.C.D.F. STEPS UP TO THE PLATE FOR A HOME RUN!
The ASA wishes to compliment the efforts of a new organization. From the tragic loss of Kris "Chili Dog" Frick in a sand rail accident in the ISDRA, his friends and family have since taken steps to assist the EMT's of the area. Together, they formed Kris Chili Dog Frick (KCDF) Public Benefit Corporation, a non-profit organization whose mission is aimed at increasing dune rider safety awareness and conducting fundraiser's to enhance medical service in the ISDRA.
In a recent meeting, the BLM formally reported on the value of the KCDF. Neil Hamada, BLM ISDRA Manager said, "The KCDF partnership has already proven its benefits. Their donated resources have put emergency medical services on the ground at no additional cost to the visitors and saved lives." The ASA applauds KCDF and thanks them for the valuable contributions they've made to each of us duners! Check them out at <www.krisfrick.com>.

ASA BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENTS
This year, the American Sand Association will be hosting two separate golf tournaments; the 2nd Annual ASA Weekend Warrior California Tournament and the Inagural ASA Arizona Golf Classic. These events are both being hosted and organized independent of each other, with the planning and volunteer work being performed by ASA volunteers in the respective areas.

California Golf Tournament Update
The Weekend Warrior 2nd Annual Golf Tournament, hosted by Cutting Edge Performance, will be held on May 5, 2008. The event will take place once again at the prestigious Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, California. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. and Tee Off will take place at 12:30 p.m. sharp. The event will feature great hole-in-one prizes, including vacation trips, and a $50,000 dune buggy from RAW Motorsports (or a similar manufacturer). The event will have a Poker Run sponsored by Cutting Edge Performance, Helicopter Ball Drop sponsored by Funco Motorsports, Margarita Hole sponsored by RB Components, Sombrero Drive, and the entire event will be in celebration of the Cinco de Mayo holiday.
The event will also have a dinner and banquet, trophy presentation, as well as fantastic discounts in the Pro Shop. For more information, please take a moment to visit the official ASA Golf web-site at this direct link: < http://www.asagolf.golfreg.com/ >.

Arizona Golf Tournament Update
The official name of the inaugural Arizona Golf Tournament will be the ASA Arizona Golf Classic. The date of the event will be October 10, 2008 and the tournament will be held at the fabulous Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, AZ. At this time, the event is in the early planning stages and people who are interested in volunteering for the event are welcome to contact Don Johnson. Sometime during the month of March, or early April, the event will go live on the internet with an official web-site as well as sponsorship opportunities. At that time, people interested in participating at the event and signing up their foursome are asked to contact the Lead Coordinator for the ASA Arizona Golf Classic, Don Johnson, by e-mail at donsbusbox@cox.net

BORDER PATROL HAS IMPLEMENTED ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ILLEGAL MEXICAN BORDER ENTRIES

Beginning in January 2008, the Border Patrol will be conducting enhanced operations along the border encompassing both the Grey's Wells and Midway Campgrounds. These operations will include a heightened detection and surveillance strategy coupled with an immediate response protocol to intercept all illegal cross border traffic. We will implement a zero tolerance for illegal cross border entries. It is and will remain the responsibility of the recreationists to know and abide by the law. Recreationists who accidentally illegally cross the border are subject to the zero tolerance. Entry into the United States must be via a Port of Entry. Any individual who affects an illegal entry is subject to arrest and/or fine. Vehicles and personal property are subject to seizure.
Click here to read their letter to the ASA: http://files.americansandassociation.org/files/CBP.doc

BLM ANNOUNCES INTENT TO REVISE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), based on the recent publication by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of its final rule on critical habitat for the threatened Peirson’s milk-vetch, announced it will now begin revision of its Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP).

The RAMP, approved in 2005, was set aside by a Federal Court order in 2006 and remanded to BLM for further action, as was the previous FWS critical habitat designation. Steve Borchard, BLM Desert District manager, said BLM and FWS agreed it would be in the public interest to await completion of the revised final critical habitat rule before initiating revision of the RAMP.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Borchard said BLM will soon publish in the Federal Register a notice of intent to prepare a revised RAMP and new environmental impact statement (EIS). That notice will initiate a public scoping period allowing interested parties to identify issues that should be addressed in the EIS.

“We anticipate an accelerated schedule for preparing the EIS and the revised RAMP for public review, given the tremendous amount of data and public input on the earlier documents,” Borchard said. “BLM and the FWS will continue to closely coordinate on development of alternatives for the revised RAMP as we have in the past. We will be seeking the public’s input as well as we embark on this planning process.”

For further information concerning the BLM’s Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, visit the Imperial Sand Dunes website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra.html or contact BLM’s El Centro Field Office at 760-337-4400. For further information or to review the FWS’ revised final critical habitat rule, contact the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at 760-431-9440 or download the rule at http://www.regulations.gov/.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF OFF ROAD VOTERS (CLORV) ANNOUNCES 14TH ANNUAL LOBBY DAY

The California League of Off Road Voters (CLORV) is proud to announce the date for their 14th Annual Lobby Day at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lobby Day is scheduled for April 7th, 2008. Those attending will get an opportunity to walk the halls of Sacramento and meet your representatives and their staff. You will be accompanied by fellow off roaders and briefed on current off road issues to be discussed. If you are interested in attending go to: http://www.clorv.org/ for detailed information.

We are looking for Volunteers to help with the High Octane Motorsports Expo March 14th-16th.
We need volunteers to spend an hour or two while at the show, either signing up new members, selling merchandise, or raffle tickets for the new Extreme Performance Raffle Car.
We are also in desperate need of volunteers to help set up the booth Thursday March 13th from 8 AM till Noon.
Your volunteer efforts are what it takes to help keep our sport alive by maintaining access to sand areas.
If you are going to be there, OR want to come to Fontana to give a couple of hours of help to the ASA, please contact Jon Pergl at trynspellpergl@sbcglobal.net

What: High Octane Motorsports
Where: Auto Club Dragway
9300 Cherry Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
Admission:$10.00 for Adults - Children under 12 are Free

Friday March 14, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday March 15, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
Sunday March 16, 2008 from 9:00am to 6:00 p.m

Effective October 2008, permits purchased at the dunes will cost $120.00 for a season and $40.00 for a week. Save yourself time and money by
purchasing your permit before arriving. Pre-purchased permit fees remain unchanged, $90.00 for a season and $25.00 for a week. Permits can be purchased online, by phone, from a vendor on the way to the dunes or best of all, through the ASA!

Acronyms
ADSB - Andrews Dune Scarab Beetle
AMA - Adaptive Management Area
ARA = Arizona Public Records Act
ASMAP - Peirson's Milk Vetch (technical)
BLM - Bureau of Land Management
BLM ECFO - BLM El Centro Field Office
BO - Biological Opinion
BOD - Board of Directors
CA PRA = California Public Records Act
CBD - Center for Biological Diversity
CCC - California Coastal Commission
CDCA - California Desert Conservation Area
CDPA - California Desert Protection Act
CEQA = California Environmental Quality Act
CNPS - California Native Plant Society
CORVA - California Off Road Vehicle Association
CVC - California Vehicle Code
DOJ - Department of Justice
DOI - Department of the Interior
EIR - Environmental Impact Report
EIS - Environmental Impact Study
ECFO - BLM El Centro Field Office
ESA - Endangered Species Act
FLPMA - Federal Land Policy & Management Act
FOIA - Freedom of Information Act
FoOD - Friends of Oceano Dunes (Pismo)
FoDD - Friends of Dumont Dunes
ICBoS - Imperial County Board of Supervisors
SDCSO - San Diego County Sheriff's Office
FTHL - Flat Tail Horned Lizard
FWS - See USFWS
GOL - GlamisOnLine.org
IC - Incident Command
ICSO - Imperial County Sheriff Office
ISDRA - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
LEO - Law Enforcement Officer
MA - Management Area
NECO - North Eastern Colorado Desert Plan
NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act
NEQA = National Environmental Quality Act
ODSVRA - Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area
OHMVR - Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation
OHV - Off Highway Vehicle
OHVEST - Off Highway Vehicle Enforcement Safety Team
ORBA - Off Road Business Association
ORV = Off Road Vehicle
PA - Planning Area
PH SO - Sand food
PMV - Peirson's Milk Vetch
RAMP - Recreation Area Management Plan
ROD - Record of Decision
SDORC - San Diego Off-Road Coalition
SSSS - Sand Sports Super Show
SVRA - State Vehicle Recreation Area
TRT - Technical Review Team
UA - Unlawful Assembly
UDG - United Desert Gateway Communities (local to ISDRA)
USFWS - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WECO - Western Colorado Desert Plan
WSA - Wilderness Study Area

What's New in the ASA March, 2008

BLM ANNOUNCES INTENT TO REVISE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), based on the recent publication by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of its final rule on critical habitat for the threatened Peirson’s milk-vetch, announced it will now begin revision of its Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP).

What's New in the ASA
March, 2008